Sleep Apnea Associated with Increased Stroke Risk in Women

A new study suggests that sleep apnea could raise stroke risk in women too.

Sleep apnea is characterized by frequent pauses in breathing during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea causes many health complications and increases stroke and depression risks, irregular heart beat. The present study is one of the few studies that look into sleep apnea in women and stroke risk associated with it.

"Some researchers and clinicians have theorized that because men may have OSA for longer periods of their lives compared to women, studies have been looking at populations with very different exposure times, and that therefore, the gender differences that have been apparent in past studies really just reflect inadequate follow-up time," said study lead author Suzie Bertisch, M.D., MPH.

The study was presented at the 2014 American Thoracic Society International Conference.

Data for the study came from 5,442 participants enrolled in the Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS), a research project looking at the adverse effects of sleep apnea on heart health.

Participants underwent sleep study between 1994 and 1998 and were followed for around 15.8 years.

Researchers divided patients into four quartiles, depending on their sleep quality, with level I being the least severe sleep apnea.

The team found that people with poor sleep had higher risk of stroke, which wasn't surprising as previous research had already established a link between the two.

What was surprising, however, was that both men and women had almost similar chances of developing heart problems due to sleep apnea.

The research shows that scientists should be including more women OSA patients in the studies.

"Our results could have a substantial impact on our thinking of the risks associated with sleep apnea in women." Bertisch noted in a news release. "From a clinical standpoint, the results could help clinicians provide more proactive treatment for reducing cardiovascular risk in their female OSA patients."

Sleep apnea is a serious public health problem. Poor sleep leads to drowsiness the next day, which is dangerous, especially for motorists.